5 South Sudan minsters on visit to Qatar test positive for COVID-19, Kiir to call off trip

JUBA – At least five South Sudanese government ministers who are among seven others who traveled to the state of Qatar yesterday have tested positive for the deadly coronavirus disease, a senior government official who is also among the delegation has just said.

The delegation that left Juba and arrived in the Qatari capital Doha yesterday was led by President Salva Kiir’s security advisor Tutkew Gatluak, and include ministers of foreign affairs, finance and planning, investment, roads and bridges, higher education, agriculture, wildlife, and tourism and conservation.

Others who are among the team are the governor of central bank, managing director of Nilepet, and secretary-general of the Islamic Council of South Sudan.

Speaking to Sudans Post this evening, a South Sudan presidency official who is also on the mission said five ministers have tested positive for the virus and the whole of delegation has been put under quarantine.

“Now as I am speaking to you, I am not positive, but five members of the seven ministers have tested positive. We were many when we left Juba and the test results for COVID-19 that we did in Juba came back negative for all of us and we now have people who have the virus,” the official, who requested not to be named, said.

“Now that the delegation has been put under quarantine, we are expecting that the mission will be called off and President Salva Kiir will also call off his visit which could have been on Tuesday,” the official added.

Juba-based news outlet ‘Hot in Juba’ also quoted unnamed official, but was only told that the COVID-19 test came back positive for three ministers which the outlet has not also identified and has also been told that the mission is to be called off.

“President Salva Kiir was expected to join the delegation in Doha but with this situation, we might have to call off the mission and return home,” one of the delegation’s support team told the news outlet.